911 and 311 Industry News
Week of May15, 2023
Mother delivers own baby thanks to Missouri 911 dispatcher’s help
Kayla Sheppard and Ala Errebhi / DC News Now
May 14, 2023
PIKE COUNTY, Mo. (KTVI) — A Missouri mother safely delivered her own baby boy in a car thanks to the help of a Pike County 911 dispatcher.
Christie Rosenstengle welcomed baby Reece into the world on May 11 in her and her husband’s car. It was about 1:30 a.m., and Rosenstengle’s husband, Kaleb, was driving them to the hospital when Rosenstengle said it was time.
Measure hiking monthly cell phone fees for 911 upgrade heads to governor
Michael McNutt / NonDoc
May 12, 2023
As part of an effort to upgrade the state’s emergency hotline system, Oklahomans will see a permanent 67 percent increase in the monthly 911 fees that they pay on each cell phone line if Gov. Kevin Stitt signs a measure into law that cleared its final legislative hearing Thursday.
National Parks Service Should Turn Over Parks To D.C. Government, Report Says
Jacob Fenston / DCist
May 12, 2023
D.C. is famous for its parks: some of them, like the grassy, manicured National Mall, draw tourists from around the globe. In fact, the District has been ranked number 1 for urban parks in the U.S. by the Trust For Public Land for three out of the past four years. But in many District neighborhoods, parks aren’t living up to that postcard-perfect image, according to a new report from George Washington University.
What can Dallas City Hall learn from ransomware attack?
Staff/ Dallas Morning News
May 12, 2023
Dallas is still working to contain a ransomware attack that started last week and that officials say it could take months to recover from. City leaders are keeping some details to themselves for now, citing the ongoing criminal investigation, so there is a lot we still don’t know. What is clear is that the attack underscores the need for City Hall to improve its cybersecurity infrastructure.
New Orleans 911 center launches live audio language translation for non-English speaking callers
Andres Fuentes / FOX8 Live
May 16, 2023
NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - Emergency communication specialists at the Orleans Parish Communication District now have access to live translations on their screens when a non-English speaking person needs help in New Orleans.
On May 15, Executive Director Tyrell Morris announced that the district’s technology partner Carbyne now offers live audio language translation in its emergency call-taking platform, APEX.
Cobb County offers new 911 operator training program to high schoolers
Alex Whittler / FOX5 Atlanta
May 15, 2023
COBB COUNTY, Ga. - For the first time in metro Atlanta, a new program gives high school students hands-on training that puts them a step ahead for a career as a 911 operator.
Cobb County students spent eight weeks learning what it takes to provide help to people experiencing emergencies.
New 911 call technology will allow more precise cellphone location
Steve Sbraccia / CBS17 News
May 15, 2023
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — Knowing a precise location is critical when 911 calls are made — especially if the caller is in a panic or unsure of exactly where they are.
Now, one cellphone carrier is rolling out new technology that will work with any 911 call center to help pinpoint where the caller is located.
Indy's new Clinician-led Community Response program will respond to mental health 911 calls
Jacqueline White and Kaitlyn Kendall / WRTV News
May 15, 2023
INDIANAPOLIS — On Monday, the city of Indianapolis announced the details of the new $2 million, Clinician-Led Community Response (CLCR) program.
City of Davis considers allowing dispatchers to give medical advice to callers
Steve Large / CBS News
May 15, 2023
DAVIS — A big change could be coming to 911 calls in Davis.
For the first time, dispatchers on those calls could be allowed to give medical advice to callers in distress.
It may seem like common sense, you call 911 for a medical emergency and the dispatcher helps you before paramedics arrive. That's not how it works in Davis, at least not yet.
Burbank’s 311 App Gets an Upgrade
Staff / myBurbank
May 15, 2023
The Our Burbank 311 Mobile App, launched by the City of Burbank in January 2022, has recently expanded its range of services to include park maintenance and forestry, providing residents with a convenient tool for reporting fallen trees and branches, park equipment concerns, and beehives on city-owned trees. The app also streamlines other city services, such as requests for parkway tree trimming and tree removal.
Women: Man with machete approached on trail, sexually assaulted one of them in Montgomery County
Daniel Hamburg and Brian Farrell / DC News Now
May 16, 2023
WHITE OAK, Md. (DC News Now) — Police arrested a man with a machete Tuesday afternoon after investigators said he went up to two women while they were eating lunch in a park, demanded property, then sexually assaulted one of them.
Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) said officers went to the Northwest Branch Trail at Burnt Mills East Special Park in White Oak shortly before 3 p.m. after receiving a call about an active assault.
Minneapolis 911 staffing levels improve, response times still below national standards
Jay Kolls / ABC75 KSTP-TV News
May 16, 2023
5 EYEWITNESS NEWS first reported more than a year ago that the number of operators and dispatchers at the Minneapolis 911 Center was “dangerously low” and the amount of time it took to answer 911 emergency calls had fallen below nationally recognized standards.
How Fayetteville's 911 Center persevered without half its staff
Lexi Solomon / The Fayestville Observer
May 17, 2023
During the COVID-19 pandemic when schools and daycares were closed, Fayetteville's 911 Center lost roughly half of its staff to either burn-out or childcare issues.
Lisa Reid, who has been employed with the city for 29 years and began as the city's 911 communications manager in 2010, said the staffing problems started around the end of 2021. By October of 2021, the center had lost at least 18 of its 40 employees in the call center, city spokesperson Devon Smith said.
911 Center completes transition to all-digital network
Mike Sorensen / Herald-Whig
May 16, 2023
QUINCY — As of last week, the Quincy/Adams County 911 Communications Center has moved to a fully digital call answering center, part of the new statewide Next Generation 911 (NG911) network.
"The Emergency Telephone System Act required the state to create this Next Generation 911 network," said Jessica Douglas, director of the Quincy/Adams County 911 Center. "The purpose was to enhance the services to both citizens living here, and those people traveling through the state. Eventually all of the public service answering points (PSAP) will be connected to this statewide network."
Durham budget could take HEART 911 response program citywide. How to weigh in.
Mary Helen Moore / Yahoo! News
May 16, 2023
Durham’s HEART program, which sends unarmed specialists instead of police to some 911 calls, could soon go citywide.
HEART aims to limit potentially dangerous interactions with police and connect residents with mental health resources and follow-up care.
Lansing 311 call center receives 35,000 calls in its first year
Larry Wallace / FOX47 News
May 16, 2023
LANSING, Mich. — This time last year, the city of Lansing launched a 311 call center with their initiative called Lansing 311: One Call To City Hall.
The goal of the center was to create a "centralized, quicker and more efficient way for residents to receive assistance with their non-emergency questions that are related to the city," according to the city's website. The city spent over $400,000 to launch the center.
Should DC Take Control of Federal Parkland in the City?
Luke Mullins / The Washingtonian
May 17, 2023
DC’s park system has long been a point of pride for the city—and for good reason. Washington is home to a number of world-class monuments. Nearly a quarter of the city’s land is considered green space. The nonprofit Trust for Public Land has ranked Washington’s park system as the best in the nation for three years running. But beneath these flattering accolades sits a systemic problem.
911 call centers are overwhelmed: How Oneida County proposes to ease the burden
Edward Harris / Observer-Dispatch
May 17, 2023
Oneida County will soon start a Nurse Navigator program, which will allow the county’s 911 center to transfer non-emergency calls directly to a nurse.
The program, first introduced by Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente Jr. in his State of the County Address, is expected to begin mid-June.
Bill to upgrade Oklahoma’s 911 services signed into law
Kaylee Douglas / KFOR News
May 17, 2023
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – A bill designed to enhance Oklahoma’s 911 services has been signed into law by Governor Kevin Stitt.
House Bill 1590 would modernize the state’s 911 services and require telecommunicator CPR (T-CPR) training for dispatchers in the state to assist callers until help arrives. It would also adjust the fee for devices capable of calling 911 from 75 cents to $1.25 a month.
St. Lucie County fire crews install traffic systems to help clear intersections during 911 calls
Sooji Nam / ABC25 WPBF News
May 17, 2023
The St. Lucie County Fire District is working with county leaders to implement a new traffic system that will help improve their response times during service calls.
With these traffic pre-emption devices, the system will turn the traffic lights green at intersections to help clear the paths in St. Lucie County.
City of Harrisburg to bring back 'Hot Spot Saturdays' to target illegal dumping
Alyssa Kratz / FOX43 News
May 17, 2023
HARRISBURG, Pa. — Furniture, TVs, building materials, and more. They are just some of the things that continue to be illegally dumped across Harrisburg.
“We definitely are on attack when it comes to illegal dumping and blight," said Dave West, the city's public works director.
New law to train 911 operators on CPR, instruct callers how to perform it
Grant Palmer / News Channel 8 News
May 18, 2023
OKLAHOMA CITY (KOKH) — Oklahoma's 911 services are getting an upgrade.
Governor Kevin Stitt recently signed the Haiden Fleming Memorial Act into law, in an effort to save more lives.
The law will equip 911 operators with the ability to teach people how to do CPR over the phone when an emergency is happening.
First responders in Groton use new technology when taking 911 calls
Luke Hajdasz / WFSB News
May 18, 2023
GROTON, CT (WFSB) - First responders in Groton have some new technology to keep you and your family safe.
The next time you call 911, things might be a little bit different.
Michael Gilman has been asking questions like “is he changing color?” for 27 years. “We are the first first responders,” Gilman said.
Collier County implements AI-powered RapidSOS for faster 911 assistance
Ryan Arbogast / NBC2 News
May 18, 2023
COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. — The Collier County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) has announced a partnership with technology and artificial intelligence company RapidSOS, which both parties hope will drastically improve 911 response times in the event of an emergency.
Unpaid traffic tickets in D.C. stack up to nearly $1.3 billion
Cuneyt Dil / Axios
May 18, 2023
Drivers owe nearly $1.3 billion in traffic fines and penalties to the District — but the city has long struggled to get paid, the Washington Post reports.
Why it matters: Motorists who rack up speeding and red light tickets in D.C. are going unpunished, while traffic fatalities rise.
Mayor Scott Launches Website to Track the Progress of City Services Sprint
PRESS RELEASE / City of Baltimore
May 18, 2023
BALTIMORE, MD. (Thursday, May 18, 2023) - Today, Mayor Brandon M. Scott launched a new website for residents to track the progress of the #BuildBetterBMore city services sprint. Since launching the city services sprint in April, the Department of Transportation (DOT) crews repaired more than 9,000 potholes and resurfaced over four lane-miles. The Department of Public of Public Works (DPW) removed more than 500 graffiti markings, and the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) investigated over 1,000 illegal dumping cases.
Abandoned signs around Baton Rouge new target of city's war on litter, blight
Paul Cobler / The Advocate
May 18, 2023
The battle against litter and blight in Baton Rouge was given another boost on Wednesday when the Metro Council approved a measure that should allow the city-parish to start taking down abandoned signs.